Cheryl B. Harner Wonder Fund
The Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc. collaborated with the Harner Family to establish the CBH Wonder Fund, which aims to provide free access and volunteer opportunities for Wonder Fund Recipients at events hosted by the society. Your experience gained through this program can be valuable in your professional or volunteer endeavors, whether it’s through coursework or volunteer work in natural areas, parks, land conservancies, or the sciences. Attending programs, lectures, and field trips offers opportunities to learn from renowned naturalists, educators, and conservation leaders in the field.
We do require that recipients commit to volunteering for up to 2-3 hours per day during the event. Wonder Fund Recipients may be asked to help ‘show what they learned’ by taking notes, creating sketches, and/or taking pictures while listening to the presentations or while on the field trips.
The Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc., may organize two to three events per year. The flagship event is the Midwest Native Plant Conference, held at the Bergamo Center in Dayton, Ohio, and typically occurs in early August. The Native Plant & Artisan Sale is offered to the public during this event. Other events encompass “nature safari” weekends or one-day workshops. All these events are crafted to align with the society’s mission of “connecting people to nature.”
Please note that submitting an application to be a CBH Wonder Fund Fellow does not guarantee placement. The number of those selected may fluctuate based on available funds and the number of events hosted by Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc. Applicants will receive an email notification confirming whether they have been chosen or not as a Fellow. Regardless of selection, volunteering opportunities may be available for the event. This is an excellent chance to learn and connect with nature.
Please complete the application below. For questions, please contact Michelle at a midwestnativeplants@gmail.com.
- Cheryl leading one of many field trips
- Cheryl at Fleming Falls, Richland County, OH
Honoring Cheryl B. Harner’s Legacy
This Fund was established with the Harner Family in memory of long-time naturalist, conservationist and team member, Cheryl B. Harner. We aspire to inspire future generations of naturalists and professionals to carry on the legacy of those dedicated to the environment like Cheryl.
“Her perpetual curiosity sparked her learning about botany, butterflies, birds and the interwoven relationships within nature. Cheryl volunteered with a variety of conservation- and nature-oriented organizations throughout Ohio. She challenged others with her questions, tackled persisting questions by reading all she could on the topic, and she shared what she learned by engaging all of those around her. Cheryl often expressed the importance of bringing young people and novices along to look for plants and birds, adding that these new perspectives encourage the experts to revisit the basics and take a fresh look at every plant and bird. Her bravery to explore the unknown and make new friends anywhere also made Cheryl a welcome ‘motivator’ to those who might have needed that extra ‘oomph’ of bravery. She often took pictures, wrote about learning from experts (and novices), and became known for her gratitude and encouragement with hand-written notes. Many still hold those little ‘thank you’ notes and ‘you can do it’ missives near and dear to their hearts, which are often taped to their refrigerators. Cheryl’s wonder and awe for the natural world inspired those around her. Those in her realm were fortunate to have her as a teacher, trip leader and friend.” ~The Harner Family

Thank You for your generous donation!
to help others grow in nature!